The Elmore Leonard Podcast

Épisodes

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  Dennis Lehane Returns 31.07.2026 48min

  In Dennis Lehane's return to the podcast, we discuss the book Elmore considers the best crime novel ever written, George V. Higgins masterpiece The Friends of Eddie Coyle. Not only that, we talk about Robert Mitchum, The McGlaughlin Wars, having lunch with Alex Rocco, arguing with Elmore about what the best Elmore adaptation was, and more.  Dennis is the best-selling and Edgar award-winning author of over a dozen books, and the Showrunner and Executive Producer of the hit Apple TV streaming series Smoke and Black Bird. He was also a writer on HBO's The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, and Netflix's Bloodline. Movies based on his books include Shutter Island, directed by Martin Scorsese, Mystic River, directed by Clint Eastwood, and Gone Baby Gone, directed by Ben Affleck.    Please enjoy.   ___ Links:  Geroge V. Higgins interviewed by Terry Gross on Fresh Air Rolling Stone article about Robert Mitchum filming The Friends of Eddie Coyle ___ Credits:  Guest: Dennis Lehane Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com
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  Matthew Weiner 15.07.2026 54min

  Matthew Weiner is the creator and showrunner of AMC's Mad Men, which is considered one of the best television shows of all time. It won 15 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama series four years in a row, as well as Emmys for Outstanding Writing, Acting, Casting, Cinematography, and more.  Before Mad Men, Matthew wrote for two seasons on The Sopranos, also considered one of the greatest television shows of all time. In 2013, he wrote and directed the feature film Are Your Here, starring Amy Poehler, Zach Galfianakis, and Owen Wilson, and in 2018 he wrote and directed every epiosde of The Romanoffs, the incredibly ambitious anthology series which streams on Amazon Prime.  In 2017, he published his first novel, the Upper East Side noir thriller, Heather, the Totality, a Barnes & Noble Book of the Year. In addition to talking about Elmore, we discuss Cornell Woolrich, procrasticantion, evil characters, going from writing some of the greatest TV ever to a novel, and what really happened to Pete's mom. Please enjoy.   ___ Links:  The Lottery, a classic long story.    Elmore's thoughts on Mad Men. Cornell Woolrich biography First You Dream, Then You Die. ___ Credits:  Guest: Matthew Weiner Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com
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  Get Shorty, Part Two 22.06.2026 56min

  GET SHORTY is one of Elmore Leonard's best known and best regarded novels. But after re-reading it, both Alex and Judd believe it is still under appreciated.  In Part Two, they track Elmore's breadcrumbs, express appreciation for getting to see more of Ray Bones in the movie than what's in the book, admire Bo Catlett, and more. Also, Judd shares how his grandfather may have assisted James Gandolfini during production of the adaptation.  Links: Dennis Lehane on Get Shorty at 30 What Scarred Alex The Making of Aerosmith's PUMP Credits:  Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com
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  Get Shorty, Part One 15.06.2026 1h 17min

  GET SHORTY is one of Elmore Leonard's best known and best regarded novels. But after re-reading it, both Alex and Judd believe it is still under appreciated.  In Part One, they dig into how only Elmore could write this book, what inspired it, some of the differences between the book and Barry Sonnenfeld's great movie, the connection between Chili Palmer and Sir Laurence Olivier, and more.  Links: Dennis Lehane on Get Shorty at 30 What Scarred Alex The Making of Aerosmith's PUMP Credits:  Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com
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  Eli Cranor: Fiction, Football, and the Fertile Ground of Arkansas 19.05.2026 49min

  Eli Cranor is the Edgar Award-winning author of Don't Know Tough, as well as Ozark Dogs, Broiler, and most recently Mississippi Blue 42. He is the Arkansas Tech University Writer in Residence, not to mention a Swedish Football Champion.  Eli joins us to talk Elmore, fiction, great mentors, and so much more.  https://www.elicranor.com https://www.lemuriabooks.com Credits:  Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com  
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  Michael Connelly 27.04.2026 50min

  Michael Connelly is one of our great working novelists. His Harry Bosch novels have been published into dozens of languages, and have spawned three television series, BOSCH, BOSCH: LEGACY, and BALLARD (all on Amazon Prime). His novel THE LINCOLN LAWYER has been adapted into a feature film as well as a television series (Netflix). His accolades include the Edgar Award For Best First Novel, the CWA Diamond Dagger award, the Outstanding Contribution To Crime Writing Award from the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, England, and in 2023 he was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. His latest novel, IRONWOOD, will be released on May 19, 2026. We discuss Elmore, jazz, James Ellroy, getting lucky, writing at night, Twin Peaks, and more. Please enjoy.  Links:  www.michaelconnelly.com www.killerinthecode.com   Credits:  Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com  
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  Carl Hiaasen 01.01.2026 47min

  CARL HIAASEN is a best-selling and award-winning author and journalist. His novels include Tourist Season, Strip Tease, Skin Tight and the recently released Fever Beach. Adaptations of his work include Strip Tease (starring Demi Moore, Burt Reynolds, and Ving Rhames), Hoot (starring Brie Larson, Logan Lerman, and Luke Wilson) and Bad Monkey, starring Vince Vaughn and now streaming on Apple.   He joins the podcast to share what it was like collaborating with Elmore (as well as Jimmy Buffet and Warren Zevon), explain what makes Florida so magnetic, and tell us about that time he set up Elmore on national television.  www.carlhiaasen.com The new Jim Harrison biography Carl mentions can be found HERE. --- Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com
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  Pronto 21.12.2025 1h 30min

  Alex and Judd dive deep into PRONTO - the first book of Elmore Leonard's to feature Raylan Givens, the central character of FX's Justified.  They discuss how Elmore auditioned one of his greatest characters, what Raylan cares about most, and also touch on the moral decay and lack of respect among the youth.  Also, Judd spoils the ending to the 1993 Tom Cruise movie, The Firm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJaABnINadM Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com    
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  Alex R. Johnson 05.12.2025 46min

  Alex R. Johnson is an author and filmmaker. His debut novel Brooklyn Motto was published this year and his film Two Step, premiered at the SXSW Film Festival. He joins the podcast to talk Elmore and tell us what it's like to jump between film and books, learn from Jonathan Demme, and grow up in a house of spies.  https://haciendafilmsinc.com Guest: Alex R. Johnson Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com
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  Walter Mosley 21.11.2025 45min

  Walter Mosley is one of our great writers. He's written over 60 books, including mysteries, science fiction, short stories and non-fiction. His books have been adapted into films and television shows such as Devil in a Blue Dress, starring Denzel Washington, Jennifer Beals, and Don Cheadle; The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey starring Samuel L. Jackson (Apple TV); The Man in my Basement starring Corey Hawkins and Willem Dafoe (Hulu), and many more.   He is also incredibly prolific in television, having written on shows such as FX's Snowfall, Justified: City Primeval and The Lowdown.  He has won the Edgar Award, the O. Henry Award, The Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award, a Grammy®, several NAACP Image awards, and PEN America's Lifetime Achievement Award. We discuss the foibles of right and wrong, how being a computer programmer is like being a cowboy, what happens if he doesn't write for 3 days in a row, and so much more.  https://www.waltermosley.com Guest: Walter Mosley Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com
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  Danny Cosmo 10.11.2025 1h 17min

  Danny Cosmo is a world-record holding high diver and stunt man who has worked on over 170 movies. Cosmo met Elmore during the research phase of TISHOMINGO BLUES, and Elmore based much of his character Dennis on Cosmo's exploits.  Cosmo joins us to share what it's like to dive from 96 feet in the air, getting shot at in Puerto Rico, transmitting subliminal messages on The Tonight Show, and how he got to be such good friends with Elmore.  See Danny in action here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d0MrlWhLYc Danny's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FishingwithCosmo Guest: Danny Cosmo Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com
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  Graham Yost 31.10.2025 50min

  Graham Yost has written or produced some of the best television ever. His work includes Band of Brothers, Boomtown, John Adams, The Pacific, Masters of the Air, The Americans, Slow Horses, and Silo. He is also the Executive Producer and Showrunner of FX's Justified, based on Elmore Leonard's short story "Fire in the Hole." Justified, starring Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, Joelle Carter, and Nick Searcy among many other amazing actors, is considered one of the very best adaptations of Elmore's work.  While Graham refused to share his childhood nickname with us, he did share great stories about Elmore, being mercilessly taunted by Walton Goggins, whether or not there will be more Justified, and much, much more.   Guest: Graham Yost Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com
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  One For The Archives 28.10.2025 1h 8min

  Before Elmore Leonard died in 2013 he decided that he wanted his archives to live at The Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections at the University of South Carolina.  This fall, the first Elmore Leonard Exhibit opened and we got to meet two of the people responsible for preserving the archives, Michael Weisenburg and Elizabeth Sudduth. Michael is the current director of the Collection and oversaw the exhibit, and Elizabeth was the director when Elmore decided that he wanted his papers, notes, and letters to be preserved alongside those of Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Hammett, and George V. Higgins.  We spoke with Elizabeth and Michael about what made Elmore choose the University of South Carolina, how the Collection will continue to evolve, and about the value of crime fiction.  Learn more about the exhibit by clicking on the link below. It runs until mid-January 2026.  Special Thanks to: Elizabeth Sudduth, Michael Weisenburg, Jeffrey Makkala, and Matt Hodge.  https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/university_libraries/exhibits_events_news/news/2025/100_years_of_elmore_leonard.php Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com
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  Otto Penzler 10.10.2025 43min

  Alex gets an audience with the one and only Otto Penzler, a dear friend of Elmore's and the proprietor of The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City - the oldest mystery specialist book store in America. Having been featured in Comfort to the Enemy and Up In Honey's Room, Otto is also the first character of Elmore's to join ust on the podcast.  Otto tells us about getting to know Elmore, the importance of not showing off all that you know, and why it's good to be the first to ask.  This episode is dedicated to Raffles, the German Shepherd.  https://www.mysteriousbookshop.com Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com
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  Florida Stories Vol. 1, with Bill Leonard and Kristy Lowman 30.09.2025 46min

  Elmore Leonard has been referred to as the "Dickens of Detroit" but his books are set all over the world. Some of our favorite books of Elmore's, like Split Images, Cat Chaser, La Brava, Maximum Bob, or Rum Punch are set in the great State of Florida.  This podcast features conversations with two people with very unique connections to Florida and Elmore. In the first half of the podast, we speak with Kristy Lowman an actual Weeki Wachee mermaid, just like the ones featured in Maximum Bob. We also get to speak with one of Elmore's five children, Bill Leonard, who shares some great stories about the family vacations that first brought Elmore to Florida.  https://weekiwachee.com Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com https://x.com/elmorepodcast hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com
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  Split Images 22.09.2025 1h 24min

  Alex and Judd throw on their cashmere sweaters, plant machetes, and taunt the homicide detectives as they dive deep into Elmore Leonard's SPLIT IMAGES.  From ElmoreLeonardOfficial.com:  Wealthy industrialist Robbie Daniels has discovered something that gives him even a bigger kick than his palatial homes in Detroit and Palm Beach: homicide. He's tried it, he likes it, and he'd like to keep doing it—as often as possible—with the help of a really bad ex-cop who quit the force one step away from prison stripes. Motown Detective Bryan Hurd strongly suspects that Daniels has been getting away with murder and figures a little Florida R&R might be an ideal way to keep a close eye on the slippery millionaire reptile. But Daniels has money, power, no fear, and an awesome collection of guns—and Hurd might be getting a little too close to the action. . . It is a nasty (and nifty) little crime book, and it was so much fun to revisit it.  Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com https://x.com/elmorepodcast hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com
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  Stacey Sher 29.08.2025 55min

  Stacey Sher is one of our great producers of film and television. In addition to having produced two of what many consider to be the three best feature film adaptations of Elmore's work - GET SHORTY and OUT OF SIGHT, she has also produced Erin Brockovich, Contagion, Gattaca, How High, Django Unchained, Reno 911!: Miami, Man on the Moon, and Heretic, to name just a few.  She was also an Executive Producer of Pulp Fiction.  She joins us to share her perspective on Elmore, working with Danny DeVito and Michael Shamberg at Jersey Films, and to reflect on Get Shorty, Out of Sight, Be Cool, and so much more.   Deleted Get Shorty Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKlH6_xZo6c Interview with Jay Weston: https://labusinessjournal.com/retail/restaurants/table-reads/ Much Appreciation to Katie Aquino and Jake Pace. Guest: Stacey Sher Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com https://x.com/elmorepodcast hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com
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  Ace Atkins 15.08.2025 1h 11min

  Ace Atkins is the best selling author of 30 novels including WICKED CITY, WHITE SHADOW, DON'T LET THE DEVIL RIDE, the upcoming EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD, the Quinn Colson series, the Nick Travers series, and several books in Robert B. Parker's Spenser series. He is also our first guest to have appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He is a huge admirer of Elmore's and he shares some fantastic stories with us today about getting feedback from and traveling with Elmore, working as a crime reporter in Tampa Bay, choosing crime fiction over sports, and so much more.  https://www.aceatkins.com https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/books-media/spy-who-scammed-us/ Guest: Ace Atkins Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com https://x.com/elmorepodcast hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com
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  Freaky Deaky, Part Two 31.07.2025 1h 44min

  Alex and Judd get out of prison, sneak into the Ricks Mansion and hide dynamite all over 1980s Detroit as they dive deep into what some have called Elmore Leonard's greatest book, FREAKY DEAKY.  In Part Two, we sink even deeper into the gray areas, argue about Chris, and hear about the book that Elmore almost wrote featuring some of his greatest characters.  Learn more about Freaky Deaky here: https://www.elmoreleonardofficial.com/books/freaky-deaky Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com https://x.com/elmorepodcast hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com
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  Freaky Deaky, Part One 25.07.2025 59min

  Alex and Judd get out of prison, sneak into the Ricks Mansion and hide dynamite all over 1980s Detroit as they dive deep into what some have called Elmore Leonard's greatest book, FREAKY DEAKY.  In Part One, we meet our second favorite novelist Nicole Robinette, try not to mix dynamite and LSD, and learn some of the facts of life from Elmore.  Learn more about Freaky Deaky here: https://www.elmoreleonardofficial.com/books/freaky-deaky Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com https://x.com/elmorepodcast hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com